KINGSTON, Jamaica- Member of Parliament for St Mary Western, Robert Montague, wants the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) increased from the current $20 million for each Member of Parliament, to $60 million.

According to Montague, the fund should be increased threefold or to any amount that the original policy dictated.

He made the call on Wednesday during his contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives.

“The originating policy document called for a set percentage of the budget to be spent on the concerns and issues of the people. This was one per cent after capital and debt expenditure,” said the former National Security Minister.

Pressing his point, Montague pointed out that of the $912 billion for the budget, removing capital and debt repayment leaves $540 billion.

“One per cent of that divided by 63 (Members of Parliament), is $85 million. Each constituency is to get $85 million for CDF but we are only asking for $60 million because we understand the realities of the day,” Montague stated.

He pointed out that at the time the CDF was first floated by then Prime Minister Bruce Golding in 2008, a percentage of the budget was to be placed in the fund.

“But due to the recession, we had to reduce it from $40 million to $15 million then Prime Minister [Andrew] Holness took it to $20 million where it is at now,” he said.

“Let’s increase and improve it. Many are willing to argue against it, yes that’s their right, let’s respect their right to do so, let’s not bash them, but we and the people we represent are demanding an increase or to go and abide by the origin policy that has not changed. Let’s not cherry-pick which policy to obey,” Montague told his colleagues. He then addressed the Minister of Finance, Dr Nigel Clarke directly.

He said: “Minister of Finance, the people’s position collectively must be heard. It was this Parliament that accepted the original policy position. Let’s obey it. Increase it Minister”.

In his inimitable style, Montague said: “Western St Mary is not asking the Minister of Finance to be wonton, reckless or free-handed with the country’s resources. We are just asking that the priorities be reordered within the same revenue envelope. Good Ministers of Finance must be tight, not mean. Our Minister tight, tight, tight. Him tight so till”.

Montague stressed that no one was asking the Minister to increase taxes or grow the debt.

“We in Western St Mary are asking you to be responsible but reorder the priorities and make some cuts and tighten up. We have come too far to waste the gains”. He said his constituents have made it very clear that their representative must be paid properly, in keeping with the office.

“MPs many times have to pay for medication, food, school books, and deal with emergencies of the people. Sometimes by you finish with the procurement for CDF, sick people dead,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Montague said there are allegations that some MPs do not fully allocate all their CDF annually and the unspent funds have to be returned, “thus robbing the people of a benefit”.

“These MPs must be named; their names must be made public. It is a travesty of justice that the little money allocated to improve the life of the people is not being properly used”.

After publishing their names, Montague said the funds should be reallocated to other MPs. He declared the CDF a policy success, noting that it had sent hundreds of children to school, including at the university level.

“Hundreds of sporting competitions are held because of the CDF. The sick is assisted, the poor is assisted, there is help with burying the dead, small roads are repaired, housing material bought. Small economic assistance is given, the CDF is a good programme, it’s an effective programme. We should be proud of the CDF. It’s been a policy success,” said Montaque.